My sophomore year, a best friend announced to me that he was gay and it changed my views on things. Until that point, I can admit to being a bit of a homophobe. After all, lack of information can lead to fear and contempt. But like I said, all of that changed.

I just want to ask one question: Is what Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) said all that bad? Let me paraphrase the statements as I understand them. What I believe the senator was saying is that if the Supreme Court overturns the sodomy law on the basis that the state cannot enact laws based on morality, then all laws limiting sexual conduct must be abolished. If you argue that two men or two women are two consenting adults, then you are arguing that a brother and sister over the age of 18 are consenting adults, a father and a daughter over the age of 18 could be two consenting adults.

It is not a far jump to then say that for the same reason it must be legal to partake in incest, as long as it is in the privacy of your own home. I do not believe that the senator was stating his opinion on the fairness of the law, even though he said he does not support homosexual relationships. I do not believe that he was comparing homosexuals to incestuous perverts. Rather, he was saying that overturning this law would set the precedent in the Supreme Court to overturn all laws governing sexual conduct.

Isn't prostitution between two consenting adults? In this case, I believe the senator was able to separate his personal views with the legal issue at hand. The sodomy law may be outrageous and go against what most people believe to be proper, but the Supreme Court must be careful. Or should it be legal for someone to sleep with a sister?